Machine for digging footing trenches



Jan. 3, 1967 B. l. BAKER 3,295,233

MACHINE FOR DIGGING FOOTING TRENCHES Filed Sept. 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Jan. 3, 1967 B. l. BAKER MACHINE FOR DIGGING FOOTING TRENCHES 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2'7, 1963 Bum Au BAKER FITTORNEYS 3,295,233Patented Jan. 3, 1967 3,295,233 MACHENE FOR DTGGING FOOTING TRENCHESBunyan I. Baker, 120. Box 48, Dunn Road, Hazelwootl, Mo. 63042 FiledSept. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 312,263 4 Claims. (Q1. 37-%) This inventioninvolves a machine for digging trenches like footings used inpreparation for pouring concrete walls. In general, the machinecomprises a frame that supports a motor and a plurality of rotarydigging elements or blades. The motor is connected to rotate a shaft andthe rotary blades are mounted on the shaft. The frame also supports twopairs of rollers disposed parallel to one another on opposite sides ofthe rotary blades. The rollers are spaced above the lowest point oftravel of the blades by the distance that the trench is to be dug belowthe top of 2 X 4s lining the sides of the trench. It is traditional inthe construction industry to define a prospective footing trench byplacing parallel 2 x 4s along opposite sides of the trench that is to bedug. It is these 2 x 4s that the rollers ride upon as the machine isbeing used.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a machine fordigging footing trenches that has a plurality of rotary blades operatedby a motor and that has guides on opposite sides of the blades forriding on top of 2 x 4s lining opposite sides of the prospective trenchto guide the rotary blades and to dictate the depth that the blades willdig.

Another feature of the machine is the provision of movable scoopsmounted behind the rotary blades and operated by the motor that drivesthe blades. The scoops run on socket chains to pick up the dirt loosenedby the rotary blades and deliver the dirt to an elevated position whereit is dumped onto laterally outwardly inclined plates. The platesdeposit the dirt to the sides beyond the 2 X 4s. The combination of therotary blades and the scoops provides a very effective motor-driventrench digger and cleaner that saves hours of manual labor.

Therefore, another object of the invention is to prov1de amotor-operated footing trench digger that has guides to position thedigger and regulate the depth of the trench being dug, and that hasmeans to remove the dirt dug loose by the digging elements of themachine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated footingtrench digger that may be self-propelled.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a power-driventrench digger that is compact and can be transported in a station wagonor small truck.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in theart.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the machine;

FIGURE 2 is a left side elevation view of the machine with parts shownin section;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation view of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a right side elevation view of the machine; and

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevation view of the machine.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the frame comprises parallel steel plates 11and 12 on opposite sides of the machine. The plates 11 and 12 are bentat right angles to provide plates 13 and 14 defining the front of theframe. A pair of steel plates 15 and 16 are welded or bolted to thefront plates 13 and 14 to add rigidity to the frame. These plates alsoare bolted to the lower housing 17 of a motor 18. The motor has a gearand bearing boX 19 within which a shaft 20 rotates.

A plurality of hubs 25, 26, 27 and 28 are mounted on the shaft 20. Eachhub 25, 26, 27 and 28 is fixed to the shaft 20 by a set screw 29 thatpermits the hubs to be adjusted in position on the shaft 20.

A plurality of blades 30 are welded to each hub 25, 26, 27 and 28.Adjacent blades on each hub have oppositely curved tips 31. Also, theradial positions of the blades 30 on adjacent hubs may be arranged toproduce a staggered arrangement of the blades so that they are not alldigging into the ground simultaneously.

On the side frame 11, there are two bolts 35 and 36. Washers 37 and 38are positioned adjacent the heads of the bolts 35 and 36 between thewashers 37 and 38 and the side plate 11. The rollers 39 and 40 should beabout three inches long.

Similar bolts 41 and 42 are mounted on the opposite side plate 12. Eachof the bolts 41 and 12 has a washer 43 adjacent its head, and the bolts41 and 42 have three inch rollers 44 and 45 mounted on them. All therollers 39, 40, 44 and 45 lie in the same horizontal plane.

FIGURE 1 shows a pair of parallel 2 x 4s 48 and 49 resting on edge onthe ground on opposite sides of a proposed footing trench area 50.Usually stakes 41 are driven into the ground to position the 2 x 4s. Thespacing between the side plates 11 and 12 of the machine is such thatthese side plates fit just inside the 2 X 4s 48 and 49 with the rollers39, 40, 44 and 45 resting on top of the 2 X 4s 4% and 49. Thus the sideplates 11 and 12 project below the upper surfaces of the 2 X 4s 48 and49 to guide the machine in a straight line as determined by the line ofthe 2 x 4s. The rollers 39, 4t), 44 and 45 that rest upon the 2 X 4sdetermine the elevation of the machine as it is operated. The positionsof the rollers 39, 4t 44 and 45 relative to the lowermost paths oftravel of the blades 31, determine the depth of the trench. This depthis usually about eight inches and the width of the trench is usuallyabout twenty inches. Obviously these dimensions may be different and themachine can be made to accommodate any width and depth of a trench.

The steel plates 15 and 16 have extensions 52 and 53 rearwardly of themotor 18. The plates 15 and 16, and extensions, are fastened together onopposite sides of the motor shaft housing 17 by bolts 54. A plate 57 isfastened between the bar extensions 52 and 5 3 by one or more of thebolts 54-, or by welding. A V-plow 59 is Welded to the lower end of theplate 57. The V-plow is at about the same depth as the digging depth ofthe rotary blades 30. The plow 59 plows the center of the trench andthrows the plowed dirt laterally outwardly. Plows that will do this areavailable on the open market.

A U-shaped channel member 60 is welded to a pair of side plates 61 and62 that, in turn, are welded to the sides 11 and 12 of the frame. Avertical plate 63 is welded to the bottom of the channel member 60 andis fastened between the plate extensions 52 and 53. This plate 63 givesstability to the frame and helps support the motor 18.

The machine also has a dirt removing assembly 65. A plate 66 issupported by three arms 67 that are fastened to the channel member 60 bybolts 68. A pair of bearing blocks 69 and 70 are bolted to the plate 66.A shaft 71 rotates in the bearing blocks 69 and 70. Two pairs ofsprocket wheels 72 and 73 are mounted on the shaft 71.

A pair of plates 75 and 76 are fastened by bolts 77 to the side plates11 and 12. The plates 75 and 76 extend downwardly and rearwardly. Arubber surfaced roller 78 is rotatably supported between the plates 75and 76.

A pair of sprocket chains 80 are mounted on the sprocket wheels 72 andextend from these sprocket wheels to the roller 7 8. Another pair ofsprocket chains 81 are wound between the pair of sprocket wheel-s 73 andthe roller '73. A plurality of dirt scoops 82 are bolted to each pair ofsprocket chains 80 and 81. As the sprocket chains travel between thesprocket wheels 72 and 73 and the roller 78, the dirt buckets 82 arecarried with them. The position of the roller 78 is such that thelowermost path of travel of the buckets 82 is about level with thelowermost path of travel of the rotary blades 30 and the plow '59.

The drive for the dirt removing assembly 65 includes a sprocket wheel 85fixed to the shaft 20. A bearing block 8-6 is mounted to the side plate11 and supports a shaft 37. A sprocket Wheel '88 is fixed to the shaft87 and a sprocket chain 89 is wound around the sprocket wheels 85 and 88. Another sprocket wheel 90 is also fixed to the shaft 87, a gearhousing 91 is supported on the channel member 60, and a sprocket wheel92 is fixed to a shaft 93 on the gear housing 91. A sprocket chain 94 iswound around the sprocket wheels 90 and 92.

The gear housing 91 has another shaft 97 that supports a pair of beltpulleys 98 and 99. There is also a pulley 100 mounted upon the shaft 71.A V-belt 101 is wound about the pulleys 98 and 100.

Immediately behind the bucket carrying chains 80 and 81 there are a pairof downwardly and outwardly inclined plates 105 and 106. The outer edges107 of these plates are beyond the outer edges of the trench being dug.When the buckets S2 reach their lowermost travel and pick up dirt, theycarry the dirt to the uppermost positions of travel above the sprocketwheels 72 and 73, and as the buckets turn around the sprocket wheels,they pour the dirt onto the plates 105 and 106. The dirt runs down theseplates onto the banks of the ground laterally beyond the trench.

The machine may be self-propelled. To do this, the rollers 39 and 44 areconnected together between the plates 11 and 12. For example, the bolts35 and 41 may be fixed to a shaft 110 and the rollers 39 and 44 fixed tothe bolts 35 and 41. A pulley 111 is fixed to the shaft 110, and a Vbelt 112 is crossed and wrapped about the pulleys 99 and 111.

At the rear of the machine, an axle frame 115 is welded or otherwiseattached to the plate extensions 52 and 53. A pair of wheels 116 rotateon axles attached to the frame 115.

A handle 1-20 is pivotally attached to a block 121 that is fastened tothe motor housing 18. The handle 120 is used to guide the machine duringa trench digging operation, and also, when pressed downwardly to pivotthe machine about the wheels 116, the handle lets the machine bemaneuvered upon the wheels 116.

When this machine is operated, the rollers 39 and 40 are rested upon the2 x 4 4 8 and the rollers 44 and 45 upon the 2 x 4 49. Operation of themotor 18 directly drives the shaft 20 to rotate the :blades 30. Theseblades, therefore, dig the trench. At the same time, the sprocket chain89 transmits a drive from the shaft 20 to the sprocket wheels 88 and 90,and thence through the sprocket chain 94 to the gear box 91. The twooutput pulleys 9'8 and 99 on the gear box 91 are thus caused to rotate.

The pulley 98 has the belt connection 101 to the pulley 100 for drivingthe dirt removing assembly 65. Thus this belt 101 causes the shaft 71 torotate and move the chains 80 and 81 that carry the buckets 82. Thebuckets '82 scoop up the loose dirt from the trench, elevate the dirt,and drop the dirt onto the plate slides 105 and 106. The dirt falls offthe slides beyond the trench.

The pulley 99 has the belt connection 112 to the front drive shaft thatis directly connected to the rollers 39 and 44. This belt 112 thereforerotates the rollers 39 and 4 4 that in turn ride along the 2 x 4s 48 and49 to propel the machine forwardly as it digs the trench.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the purview of thisinvention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Suchchanges and modifications are within the scope and teaching of thisinvention as defined by the claims appended thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for digging footing trenches to a predetermined depthbetween spaced parallel guide members, such as wood 2 x 4s resting uponthe ground and defining between them the lateral limits of the areaswhere the footing trench is to be dug, comprising a frame, the framehaving parallel side plates spaced apart by silght'l'y less than thewidth of the prospective trench as defined by the guides, a pair oflaterally outwardly extending rollers on each side plate, the rollersbeing adapted to rest upon the parallel guide members that line theopposite side of the prospective trench, the plates extending below thelower extremes of the rollers and therefore below the upper surfaces ofthe rollers when the rollers rest upon the guide members, the platesbeing positioned almost in contact with the inner sides of the guidemembers, the plates thereby guiding the machine along the path lined bythe guide members, a plurality of rotary blades between the side platesfor digging the trench, motor means for rotating the rotary blades, thelowest extreme of travel of the blades relative to the lower surfaces ofthe rollers providing the desired depth of the trench when the rollersare resting upon the guide members, a pair of wheels supported by theframe to the rear of the rotary blades, and a handle supported by theframe for pivoting the rotary blades upwardly about the wheels toprovide transportation of the machine by rolling it on the wheels.

2. The machine of claim 1 including a plow for digging the dirt betweenrelatively distantly spaced rotary blades.

3. The machine of claim 1 plus a plurality of dirt scoops, conveyormeans for carrying the dirt scoops toward and away from positionsimmediately behind the rotary blade for picking up dirt dug by theblades and elevating the dirt, means for moving the conveyor means, andlaterally inclined plates carried by the machine frame and positionedfor receiving dirt dumped by the dirt scoops and for delivering thatdirt to places laterally beyond the trench.

4. The combination of claim 1 including drive means inter-connecting themotor means and at least one roller, whereby the roller is rotated bythe drive means to propel the machine when the said roller is restingupon a guide member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,814,094 7/1931'Rhodes 37-96 X 2,196,347 4/ 1940 Von Meyenburg 172-43 2,807,104 9/1957Maxey 3796 2,825,984 3/1958 Carter 37-108 3,001,303 9/1961 Frederick3794 3,059,355 10/1962 Petterson et al. 37-108 ABRAHAM G. STONE, PrimaryExaminer.

WILLIAM A. SMITH III, ANTONIO F. GUIDA,

Examiners.

1. A MACHINE FOR DIGGING FOOTING TRENCHES TO A PREDETERMINED DEPTHBETWEEN SPACED PARALLEL GUIDE MEMBERS, SUCH AS WOOD 2 X 4''S RESTINGUPON THE GROUND AND DEFINING BETWEEN THEM THE LATERAL LIMITS OF THEAREAS WHERE THE FOOTING TRENCH IS TO BE DUG, COMPRISING A FRAME, THEFRAME HAVING PARALLEL SIDE PLATES SPACED APART BY SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THEWIDTH OF THE PROSPECTIVE TRENCH AS DEFINED BY THE GUIDES, A PAIR OFLATERALLY OUTWARDLY EXTENDING ROLLERS ON EACH SIDE PLATE, THE ROLLERSBEING ADAPTED TO REST UPON THE PARALLEL GUIDE MEMBERS THAT LINE THEOPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PROSPECTIVE TRENCH, THE PLATES EXTENDING BELOW THELOWER EXTREMES OF THE ROLLERS AND THEREFORE BELOW THE UPPER SURFACES OFTHE ROLLERS WHEN THE ROLLERS REST UPON THE GUIDE MEMBERS, THE PLATESBEING POSITIONED ALMOST IN CONTACT WITH THE INNER SIDES OF THE GUIDEMEMBERS, THE PLATES THEREBY GUIDING THE MACHINE ALONG THE PATH LINED BYTHE GUIDE MEMBERS, A PLURALITY OF ROTARY BLADES BETWEEN THE SIDE PLATESFOR DIGGING THE TRENCH, MOTOR MEANS FOR ROTATING THE ROTARY BLADES, THELOWEST EXTREME OF TRAVEL OF THE BLADES RELATIVE TO THE LOWER SURFACES OFTHE ROLLERS PROVIDING THE DESIRED DEPTH OF THE TRENCH WHEN THE ROLLERSARE RESTING UPON THE GUIDE MEMBERS, A PAIR OF WHEELS SUPPORTED BY THEFRAME TO THE REAR OF THE ROTARY BLADES, AND A HANDLE SUPPORTED BY THEFRAME FOR PIVOTING THE ROTARY BLADES UPWARDLY ABOUT THE WHEELS TOPROVIDE TRANSPORTATION OF THE MACHINE BY ROLLING IT ON THE WHEELS.